Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1887-10-13
THE NEW AGREEMENT BE
TWEEN THE N. p, AND q. p.

i nc news OF tHe NOTtuPTu TaclHc
joining the Union Pacific in lease Of
tbs o. r. Il N, Co.'s lines was surprise
to Portland While the election Of
compromise ticket by the Northern Pa
cifc stockholders two weeks ago gave
assurance Of harmony between the two
transcontinental leases Even to the o. II.
L. N, officers here was the news unex-
pected, aud the first intimation they
received came to them in an associated
press dispatch to the Evening Telegram
Saturday. Since then the joint lcNse has
been the principal topic of discussion
among railroaders and business men, but
no one here is able quite to ''make it
out" 1t occasioned among many a
shade of disappointment. They wanted
70 see fight and were willing to aid the
Union Pacific TO win. One large ship
per, opposed to townsite management
Of great railway, who has given the
Union Pacific all his freight, was dis
gusted. lie said: "The Union haG no
right to compromise with the Northern
after Portland stood in SO strong with
them. The Union gets no more freight
from mo. If, when the Southern Pacific
is through to Portland, it wants my
freight, all it has to do is to ask for it..
want no more of the combination"
Railroad men are puzzled over the
situation. An Oregonian reporter
ask ed the views Of half dozen officials
an to what effect the Joint lease will have
on Portland. Said one man, not inter-
ested in either one of the companies
which are parties to the lease: $50 far
as the public is concerned, there will be
no change from the present condition of
affairs. No doubt the competition will
not be so active, and freight may be
somewhat longer in transit than now.
Rates will probably not be advanced"
"What about wheat shipments from
the Palouse country ?" asked tho reporter.
"Undoubtedly this years wheat will
como to Portland. The Northern Pa
clio will not attempt to haul it over the
6witchback. After Cascades tunnel is
finished the Northern will carry wheat
from their own territory wherever ship
pers want it to 20. 1t is certain that
rates, say from Colfax, to Portland will
be the same as to Puget sound ports, and
farmers and interior buyers will be gov
erned by the markets at the respective
terminals. Tho Northern Pacific will
certainly not cut rates in order to force
the wheat TO the sound so the question
to where ths grain goes will DO one to be
settled by the buyer and seller. All the
wheat Of the Walla Walla valley and
Eastern Oregon will naturally take the
Columbia river routs."
Another railroader expressed the opin-
ion that the Union Pacific had conceded
very valuable territory when they gave
up the Colfax branch, but probably they
had 10 do it. "You see" said he, "that
the 0. r. l. NJ, had everything to lose
and nothing to gain by continuing the
fight for territory. The Northern Pa.
ci6c, by building branch into the Pa
louise country, another into the Walla
Walla valley and another midway
through Umatilla county, got at the very
vitals Of the 0. r. & N. To save life,
the Q. r. l. N, sacrificed limb. They
could not rctaliate by building northward
because no whoat, to speak of, is raised
along the line OF the Northern Pacific
between Wallula and the Idaho line.
Spokane Falls is the only vulnerable spot
on the Northern, and that city alone was
not . compensation for the loss Of
halt Of the grain traffic Of the Inland
Empire. l suppose that the Northern
Pacific will concede the Pendleton l.
Wallula road to the 0. r. l. N"
"If the Northern had SO much the
best Of the situation, why were they al
most unit 10 favor Of the joint lease p
asked the reporter.
ut is simple enough" was the answer
''Ihey had to do it, or soon 60 into the
hands Of receiver. The last annual
report showed that the road earned above
interest and fred charges, about $50, 900.
With the tremendous opposition against
them il was doubtful whether their net
earnings during the coming year, would
pay their interest and fixed charges.
Here is the Canadian Pacific on the
north fighting them for every inch OF
territory on Puget sound except Tacoma.
Seattle, the principal city, is unfriendly
Tor good reasons. The Union Pacific
wis fighting them on the south for
Montana and Oregon, and the Northern
was steadily losing Portland's trade. 1t
is common rumor that the Northern
Is now carrying less than 35 rer cent. Of
Portland's through business. Jim Hills
road will be at Helena in few months.
He has already built Ats miles, and the
Manitoba is now carrying more cattle
from Montana to St. Paul than the
Northern is carrying. Fortunately the
Northern has the call on the passenger
traffic, and that has helped them GU,
wonderfully"
sit looks to me" said one Of the
Portland directors of the q. r. &N.,
not railroad man, "as in the original
policy of Willard, as expressed in the
written agreement made in 1882 by the
0. 4 4 NJ, Northern and Union, is 60. |
ing to be carried out. The territory,
recording to the dispatches, has been
divided lust as he intended FIVE years
ago that it should be divided. We are
going to have terminal facilities now, not
Du 90 grand a scale hut amnlu suf;c;ept